Dhiraj

Dhiraj is a guitarist, pianist and educator, and a graduate of the BMus (Hons) Jazz course at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

With extensive professional performance experience across the UK jazz and contemporary music scene, Dhiraj has performed at leading venues including the Barbican, Royal Festival Hall, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the EFG London Jazz Festival, alongside international appearances at festivals including Bratislava Jazz Festival and We Out Here Festival.

As a guitarist, he specialises in jazz and contemporary styles, while also teaching piano up to intermediate level. Alongside performing as a freelance musician across London, Dhiraj has worked with acclaimed organisations including NYJO (National Youth Jazz Orchestra) and Tomorrow’s Warriors, collaborating with leading musicians such as Moses Boyd, Nikki Yeoh, Cleveland Watkiss and Mark Armstrong. His performing career has included West End performances at the Lyric Theatre and appearances supporting Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra at the Barbican.

Alongside his performing work, Dhiraj is a passionate and engaging teacher who enjoys helping students build confidence, creativity and a genuine connection with music. He has experience teaching in both one-to-one and group settings, working with students of different ages and abilities in a relaxed, supportive and encouraging way.

His educational and outreach work includes mentoring young musicians through the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, teaching and workshop leading in secondary schools across the UK with NYJO, and helping introduce live music and jazz to young people who may not otherwise have access to the arts. These experiences have helped shape a thoughtful and inclusive teaching style that focuses not only on technique, but also self-expression, listening and enjoyment.

Dhiraj is also a long-standing member of The Messengers — a collaborative social arts project bringing together Guildhall students and members of the community with lived experience of homelessness — which has given him valuable experience in collaborative music-making and working sensitively with people from a wide range of backgrounds.

Whether students are looking to develop strong musical foundations, explore improvisation and creativity, or simply enjoy playing music in a supportive environment, Dhiraj brings warmth, professionalism and real-world musical experience to his teaching.